Healthy Futures Program

The right start for a healthy future

Resources, education and support to give your baby the best start to life.

Whether you’re planning a family or are already pregnant, having the right care and support helps ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy. There’s a lot to know about pregnancy and keeping yourself and your baby healthy, and we can help. Our Healthy Futures Program is a great resource that connects you to important health information, so you can feel supported through your journey.

Healthy Futures is free, and it offers:

24/7 toll-free telephone access to a nurse who can answer your questions about pregnancy, child care, family planning, and more.

Educational resources to help answer your questions and support you during your pregnancy and after delivery.

Three phone surveys that help us understand your needs and provide the best services to you through your pregnancy and after delivery.

The healthier you are, the more likely you are to have a healthy baby. Have the healthiest pregnancy possible – with the Healthy Futures Program!

We know that news about the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak may be concerning to you and your family, especially if you’re pregnant or you’ve just had a baby. You may have a lot of questions or you may be experiencing feelings you didn’t expect right now, and that is okay. We are here to help you.

EmblemHealth is offering free online pregnancy resources to help keep you informed and supported during these uncertain times. This includes a video with one of our medical experts answering four frequently asked questions and sharing three key facts about pregnancy and COVID-19. Watch the video here.

There is no doubt that taking good care of your health is important when you’re pregnant. But, your health is just as important before you start planning for pregnancy. Two of the biggest factors that impact your pregnancy – nutrition and physical activity – are also vital to your day-to-day health. Getting the right nutrients and vitamins each day is key to having a healthy body and a healthy baby. That’s why watching what you eat is so important. You want to enjoy your food, but it should also be good for you. Along with nutrition, daily physical activity can help get rid of excess weight to prepare your body for pregnancy and reduce the risk of certain complications. It’s never too late to make changes and those changes don’t have to be big.

Resources for supporting your health:

Women's Health Matters - Guidelines to help you develop healthy habits before, during and after pregnancy. (Printable Download)

www.health.gov – Dietary guidelines to help you eat smarter and healthier.

www.health.gov – Physical activity guidelines to help you improve and maintain your health through physical activity.

www.acog.org – Answers to questions you might have regarding your health before pregnancy.

If you are planning a family or are just thinking about it, it is not too early to prepare for a safe pregnancy and a healthy baby. Visiting your doctor in the planning stage can help you figure out which steps are important for you to take now, like changing your diet and lifestyle and avoiding smoking, drinking alcohol or taking drugs. Acting now, can prevent many future problems for you and your baby so don’t wait.

Resources for family planning:

www.cdc.gov – Tips from the CDC to help you make the most of your pregnancy planning.

Congratulations, you’re going to have a baby! It’s an exciting time, and it’s even more important now to keep yourself healthy. When you take care of yourself, you’re taking care of your baby. Make sure you eat well, take your vitamins, drink lots of water, and get plenty of rest. You should also try to stay active. Talk you your doctor about the best way to stay fit. Give your baby the best start in life.

Taking a new baby home is one of the happiest times in a woman’s life. But, with that, comes lots of physical and emotional challenges and questions. No one is born with the skills necessary to care for a baby – you learn mothering skills by taking care of your baby. If you are already a parent, the duties may be more familiar, but each new baby is amazing and unique. While you’re taking care of your baby, be sure to take care of your mental health as well. Some women get depressed during or after having a baby, but effective care for depression is available and can make it easier for you to give your baby the attention he or she needs to be healthy.

Resources for taking your baby home:

Breastfeed or Bottle Feed?

www.health.ny.gov – What you need to know about breastfeeding and why it’s important for your baby.

www.infantrisk.com – Informative articles on why breastfeeding is important in the healthy development of you and your baby.

www.health.ny.gov – How the WIC Program can support proper nutrition for you and your baby.

Your Postpartum Health

Welcome Home – EmblemHealth’s guide to support you and your newborn at home. (Printable Download)

Pregnancy loss and infertility can each be devastating on their own. Losing a baby after fertility problems, or having trouble getting pregnant again after a loss, can feel impossible to deal with. But you are not alone. It may take some time but moving forward after a loss or fertility issues is possible and we can help.

There’s a lot to know to about getting ready for pregnancy and keeping yourself and your baby healthy, and we want to make sure you have all the information you need. Below, you’ll find additional resources and information to help you along your journey, including:

- how you can protect yourself and your baby by getting your flu shot,

- why you should never shake your baby

- what you can do to prevent lead poisoning and more.

www.health.ny.gov - If you smoke, quitting is the best thing you can do for your and your baby’s health. Call the New York State Smoker’s Quitline (866-NY-QUITS) for help.

www.nhtsa.gov – Find out how to keep your child safe with care seats and boosters.

www.no-smoke.org – How exposure to third-hand smoke can cause health problems for you and your baby.

www.cdc.gov – The importance of the flu vaccination when you’re expecting.

Whether you’re expecting your first child or your third, the best thing you can do for your baby is take care of yourself. The Healthy Futures Program provides the resources and support you need to help you better understand your pregnancy and keep you and your baby happy and healthy.

Joining is easy! Call us at 888-447-0337 as soon as you find out you are pregnant and a representative will get you enrolled.

NYC GHI CBP Members

If you have type 1 or 2 diabetes, call 800-447-0768, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.